Writer: Helena Bergström
What is it like to visit Dune du Pilat in France? Located on the coast of Bordeaux, this dune is the largest in Europe. And that's saying a lot - this dune is huge!
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Dune du Pilat in France
The Dune du Pilat is the largest sand dune in Europe. Its shape and size change slightly from year to year, but at the moment it's about 2.9 kilometres long, 600 metres wide and more than 100 metres high. Not bad, then!
Dune du Pilat is located in the Bay of Arcachon on the French Atlantic coast, just over 60 kilometres southwest of Bordeaux.
Dune du Pilat - Europe's largest sand dune
The Dune du Pilat can boast of being the largest sand dune in Europe. It rises majestically between the sea and the forest, like a long, high mountain of sand.
The dune is never still, but is constantly affected by the wind. The measurements describing its size can therefore vary, but the dune is currently about 2.9 metres long, 616 metres wide and 101 metres high.
The accumulation of sand has occurred over time, in five phases over the last 4000 years. Periods characterised by cold, dry and windy weather have caused the sand to move and accumulate in a huge pile.
To visit Dune du Pilat
The Dune du Pilat is visited by more than two million people every year. To avoid crowds, it may be best to choose the low season, or at least the time before or after the absolute high season in summer. If it's summer - try to aim for early morning or late afternoon to avoid the worst crowds!
When you are going to visit Dune du Pilat, you usually start by parking in the area's car park. An alternative is to arrive by bus or bicycle. Then, just start walking towards the dune. The walkway consists of nice footpaths and is lined with restaurants and souvenir shops.
After a short walk, the dunes appear. During most of the year there is a nice wooden staircase, which makes it easier to get up. In winter, the stairs are dismantled to avoid damage, and you have to walk directly on the sand. It's best to wear trainers, walking shoes or sandals. In May, it was also possible to walk barefoot, but in summer it can be too hot in the sand!
You may have to stop and catch your breath here and there, but it's not too hard to get to the top.
Once you're up, you can enjoy the view. Some people walk a long way. Others sit down on the sand and look out over the green areas inland, or towards the sea. Above all, you want to stop for a while and be mesmerised by the place - Europe's largest sand dune!
Where can you stay or park your motorhome?
There are several hotels in the vicinity of Dune du Pilat, mainly north of the dune. Some campsites are located right next to the dune. More campsites and caravan parks can be found around the area. Check for example the CamperContact app.
More to see and do in the neighbourhood
Just north of the Dune du Pilat is the Bay of Arcachon, where you can visit Arcachon and Gujan-Mestras, known for its charming fishing huts and restaurants serving fresh oysters. Fantastically nice! It is also relatively
Would you like to visit Dune du Pilat?
Would you like to visit Dune du Pilat? Or maybe you've already been here? What are your top tips for the area?
Facts about Dune du Pilat - Europe's largest sand dune
- Country: France
- Location: The dunes are located in La Teste-de-Buch in the Bay of Arcachon, France, 60 km south-west of Bordeaux along the Atlantic coast of France.
- Name: The place is called 'Dune du Pilat' or 'Grande Dune du Pilat'. Pilat comes from the Gascon word Pilhar, which refers to a mound or hill. Some signs may also say "Dune du Pyla", which refers to the same dune.
- Volume: Approximately 60 000 000 m3
- Length: Approximately 2.9 kilometres from north to south
- Width: Approximately 616 metres from east to west
- Height: Approximately 101 metres above sea level (2018)
- Visitors: More than 2 million visitors per year.
Visiting Dune du Pilat - good to know
- Parking: Car parks are available at Dune du Pilat, for cars, motorhomes and coaches. You take a ticket when you enter and you pay before you leave. You cannot stay overnight with your motorhome. Please note. The car parks can get crowded during the high season!
- Opening hours: The dune is a natural site that can be visited at all times. At night, between 02:00 and 05:00, it is not allowed to park.
- Cost: You pay for the car park. (The price varies depending on the vehicle and the season. We paid 10 euros to park with our motorhome, in May 2025). No cost for the visit itself.
- To put on: Clothing for the weather. Comfortable shoes - either trainers/hiking shoes or sandals/bare feet (note, the sand can get very hot in summer!). In sunny weather: hat/cap, sunglasses and sunscreen.
- To take with you: Camera or mobile phone to take photos. Water bottle if it is hot.
- Accessibility: To get onto the dune, you need to be able to climb stairs and/or deep sand.
- Dogs: Dogs are allowed on a lead, in the reception area and on the dune, but not on the beach.
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Visiting Colmar - a picturesque dream in France
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JoY says:
Sure it is powerful the big sand dune. Years go by and when I look back we were there in 2010, then we took our swimwear and went up on the dune hahaha we thought you could take a dip on the other side. Which we quickly realised you can't go down there to the sea. Don't think we would have made it back up through the sand, one thing to go down but back no no. In 2016 we only saw it when passing on the road, just as big as before.
We stayed in Biscarosse Place at a natural campsite, just behind the sandbanks facing the Atlantic, what a huge sandy beach where you could walk for hours, we can't wait to go back.
Have a good time Hugs
27 May 2025 - 8:33
Anna in Portugal says:
We have been there, it is an impressive place. They seem to have done it nicely on the way to the dune, when we were there it was low season and quite wet and rainy.
27 May 2025 - 9:46
bmlarstravellingblog says:
Så häftig den är denna enorma sanddyn. Vi var där september 2019 och det var verkligen en upplevelse, med foton som ser ut ungefär som era. Vi bodde på en camping i Biscarosse, ett par mil därifrån. Det var nog ett populärt tillhåll för surfare, som vi beundrade på kvällen. Hit kan vi utan tvekan tänka oss att åka tillbaka.
27 May 2025 - 13:35
BP says:
WOW! Läckert och mäktigt. Trodde först att det var en konstgjort sanddyn, men där hade jag fel. Har bara sett sådana sanddyner i Arabemiraten, särskilt i Dubai. Undrar om man har buggy-climbing på Dune du Pilat som dom hade i Dubai. Det är alltså en tävling med beach buggys som kör uppför dynen så långt de bara kan. Den som kommit högst vinner.
Ja, hellre det än att gå uppför Dune du Pilat i sanden. Omtänksamt med en promenadväg som är så fin.
27 May 2025 - 20:13